PUBLISHED: 13 Apr 2025 at 21: 50
As Thailand celebrates the Songkran festival, local airports are experiencing an influx of both domestic and international travelers.
Big cities like Phuket, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Songkhla, and Khon Kaen organized their own Songkran events on Sunday, which attracted thousands of tourists who wanted to take part in the yearly celebration.
Tourists from Phuket poured into Patong Beach, which was filled with a myriad of actions, including merit-making ceremonies, conventional water gifts, and dance performances that started early in the morning. Water fights may be spotted all day, specifically along Bangla Road.
However, on Sunday at the state’s Tha Phae Gate, officials in Chiang Mai held a Lanna-style New Year’s Eve party known as Pi Mai Mueang.
Highlights of the occasion included a royal cleaning of a copy of the Phra Buddha Sihing image, a Songkran goddess’s march, and a charm show featuring 30 contestants riding paper parasols while wearing traditional clothing in a nod to the past lives of Lanna women.
Locals in Nakhon Ratchasima in the Northeast participated in a day merit-making ceremony that included the royal cleaning of Buddha pictures. Some people paid tribute to Thao Suranari, the state’s legend, or” Lady Mo.”
The Ministry of Culture, which co-sponsored the event, reported that the” Korat Grand Songkran” event this year attracted more than 50 million baht in revenue.
The tourism power of Thailand’s Khon Kaen company organized a” Songkran Two Ways” visit that included free city bus rides for tourists to experience both traditional religious customs with traditional merit-making activities and colorful fun activities.
Highlights included a mortal wave, a human storm, and sit Mor Lam music that was played on city buses.
The single event of its kind in Thailand, the” Hat Yai Midnight Songkran” party, ran from Saturday evening until Sunday night, in Songkhla in the north, showcasing a unique all-night water fight that ran from Saturday evening until Sunday morning. Sanehanusorn Road was filled with life DJ sets and foaming events for tourists, many of whom were from neighboring Malaysia.
Numerous Buddhist merit-making ceremonies were held in the morning, many of which featured versions of the revered figures Luang Pu Thuat and Phra Buddha Sihing.
The Department of Airports ( DoA ), which oversees the nation’s regional airports, except six that are run by Airports of Thailand ( AoT), reported a lively start to the Songkran holidays this year. On April 11, the day before the official start of the Songkran holidays, it claimed 44, 819 passengers, 42 of whom were home, 870 of which were worldwide, and 299 of whom were under its control.
A joint activities center has been established from April 11 to April 17 according to DoA director-general Danai Ruengsuan to ensure the safety and effectiveness of activities throughout the time.
Additionally, airports that are under the DoA organized standard water-pouring rites and memory giveaways to welcome visitors.